Earlier this year, FastCompany.com started tracking bright spots in the ailing economy with a series of infographics. Here's a look at some of the most revealing findings we visualized. Feeling hopeful yet?

Last year TweetMyJobs, an online job service, started connecting job seekers and employers by tweeting job openings. On Tuesday, the company announced that its services recently helped IHG, the world's largest hotel group, receive 18,000 highly targeted views of an available 1,000 positions.

Monocle magazine, the stylish creation of Tyler Brulé, is planning to open up a new bureau in Hong Kong, funded by the sale of bags. The three-year-old publication, which totes (ah-hah!) itself as the foppish offspring of Wallpaper* and The Economist, has flogged 8,000 bags from its two media outlets—one in London, the other in Los Angeles—has also bagged itself (oh dear) a weekly 30-minute TV slot on BBC World News.